"Economy and tourism in Dubai" And Google launch an initiative "Dubai on your map" To support the food and restaurant sector
DUBAI, 9 JUNE / WAM / The Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai and Google announced today the launch of the “Dubai on your map: your guide from its people”, which is an initiative aimed at supporting the local food and restaurant sector throughout the Emirate of Dubai.
As part of the initiative, Local Guides, a group of volunteers who contribute their reviews to Google Maps, will share their favorite lists of the best restaurants and cafes in Dubai, followed by an open vote for the public, with the aim of enhancing demand for these destinations and supporting the growth of local businesses.
The initiative was launched during an exclusive event at the Etihad Museum in the presence of Ahmed Al Roum Al Muhairi, Executive Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development, one of the institutions of the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, along with a number of senior officials and entrepreneurs in the food and beverage sector and influential content makers in the field of cooking and food in the region.
The “Dubai on your map: Your guide from its people” initiative comes as part of the “From Dubai, for Dubai” campaign, which is a community initiative launched by the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai to support individuals, companies and ideas that shape daily life in the city.
The campaign encourages residents, visitors and content creators to explore and support companies and projects based in Dubai.
By integrating existing initiatives and support efforts under a common umbrella and vision, the campaign invites everyone to choose local products and businesses, share the inspiring stories behind projects they love, and contribute to building a more connected local economy.
The “Dubai on Your Map” initiative empowers Dubai’s community of local guides to build personalized, attribute-categorized menus directly on Google Maps to highlight the most unique culinary secrets across the city.
Local Guides are like Google Maps explorers, sharing reviews, photos and answers about places on maps, helping millions of people around the world find what they need and discover new experiences.
Starting today, everyone can explore 11 menus curated by these experts on the campaign’s official portal “MapyourDubai.com”, discover and visit them directly through their personal accounts on Google Maps, and vote for their favorite culinary menus.
Voting will open on June 22, 2026 and will continue until July 6, 2026, when the winning local guides will be celebrated on official social media channels.
Anthony Nakash, General Manager of Google in the Middle East and North Africa, said that the “Dubai on your map” initiative contributes to enabling local Google guides to transform their real knowledge of the city into an influential community movement. We seek to empower and support the small and local food and beverage enterprise sector by providing them with the digital tools they need to maintain their competitive capabilities and reach new communities and audiences. We are fully committed, along with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, to providing all means to support the growth of the food and restaurant sector in Dubai. Area.
Ahmed Al-Roum Al Muhairi, Executive Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development, said that the “Dubai on your map” initiative reflects one of the most prominent elements of Dubai’s distinction based on the diversity of its experiences, residents and cultural backgrounds, and it becomes more distinguished thanks to the partnerships that bring these components together. Through the “From Dubai, for Dubai” campaign and in cooperation with Google, we continue Dubai’s established approach to telling community stories, starting with the #MyDubai initiative and ending with MyDubai Communities. Residents, content creators, and visitors play an active role in shaping the city’s image and telling its story. This initiative also builds on previous collaborations with Google that aimed to highlight the unique experiences and components that Dubai offers through digital discovery and community engagement.
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